Stalk forwarder for corn pickers and huskers



R. P. MESSENGER STALK FORWARDER FOR CORN PICKERS AND HUSKERS Jan. 11, 1949.

'2 She'ets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 15, 1945 fnz/enr" 4 fiozerifj sergger Jan. 11; 1949. R. P. MESSENGER 2,458,791

7 STALK FORWARDER FOR CORN PICKERS AND HUSKERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 15; 1.945

f avenger-1 ,Fb b eri Pd Zysseq ger 0 PM Patented Jan. 11, 1949 STALK'FORWARDER FOR CORN PICKERS' AND HUSKERS Robert" P. Messenger, Kenilworth, IlL, assignor to" International Harvester-Company,- a corporationiof New J ersey,

Application October 15, 1945, Serial No. 622,392

7 Claims. v

This: inventionrelates to a new andimproved stalkforwarder for corn'pickers and has for one-of'its principal objects'a provision of means for preventing-clogging and'jamming of the cornstalks prior to snappingand 'husking.

Animportant' object of this invention is to providaa-stalk forwarderfor corn pickers, particularly 'for usedn the .stalk cut-off type;

Another important object "of this invention, is to provide a stalk forwarder'and guiding means in a corn picker in whichthe 'entire'stalk is fedhorizontally through snapping rolls and thesnapped'ears are adapted to fall back-and downwardly on husking rolls;

A still further-importantobject ofthisinven- 1 tioniszto provideza'pair oi cooperative stalk forwarding rolls resiliently mounted with respect to-each other.

Stilla-further object of the invention is-to providea pair 'of' cooperative stalkforwarding rolls;unjournaled at their lower ends and 'sus pended-over a husk removing bed'to enable corn a stalks in a'picker of'the cut0fi type to bridge-thegap; between the end of one-conveyor and the entrance of the stalk betweenv the fear snapping rolls.

The-use ofcorn pickers which-employ sickle-t meansior completely severing the-main portionof .thewstalk from the root and rstubble is not in itselifnew; but-thecombination of the cut-off type picker with the snappingrolls and husking rolls in a newand "novel-relationshipone'to the other, such as shown in the following drawings, is a'definite departure from previous corn pickers. Inlthercorn picker, as shown, the stalksare'severed:and,-.thereupon carried upwardly by gathering .chains=to "a point where they meet a substantially horizontal: longitudinal conveyor. The second-"operationrto be performed-by the corn picker issthe'snapping of the ear-sirom the severed stalks.- The snapping rolls employed are'posi I tioned vertically in the-corn picker-at a pointspaced rearwardly from the end of thehorizontab conveyor. The--bed-ofrhusking rolls-is spaced between the-horizontal: conveyor and the snapping-"rolls :so that theears; as they are snapped by the-snapping rolls, fall forwardly and downwardlystothehusking rollsm. Theasevered stalks must therefore bridge the gap between the end" of the horizontal conveyor andithe-rel'atively far distantspaced snapping rolls. It has been found from actualwexperimentthat the severed stalks causes great congestion r-innthe area above the? husking. bedio'r lack of guiding andaproper orwarding, ofyithe stalk; until itiswgripped by the snapping rolls. Hence it is the object of this invention to provide a stalk forwarder in a position above the husking bed which will aid the severed stalks in their rearward travel to the snapping rolls which will permit the stalks to e forwarded without contact with the ears on the stalk.

Other and further important objects of this invention will become apparent from the disclosuresin the following specification and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view-taken through a cut-off type corn picker employing the stalk forwarder of this invention;

Figure 2 Ba horizontal longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 22 of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a top plan View of the device of this invention.

As shown in the'drawings:

The reference numeral it: indicates generally a housing adapted to enclose the elements of a cornpicker. The portions of the corn picker which are not shown are relatively standard and, inasmuch as they-form no part of the present invention, it is thought advisable to leave them out, of the drawings. In any event, the picker is ofthe-'cut oif type in which the stalks with their ears and leaves are raisedand deposited ;of the corn stalks,

on a'horizontal slat-type conveyor H, as shown in Figures l and 2. The stalk travels rearwardly with the :butt' end first. The horizontal and rearwardly running conveyor H is equipped with crossslots 12 which causeaggressive movement However, inaddition to the cross slats I2 on the conveyor il, a paddle-type feed wheel 53 is-positionedabove the conveyor ii and cooperates with the slats l2 on the conveyor'i l for causing the stalks it to travel rear- "wardly'without interruption. The paddle wheel I3 is attached to' a driven shaft it which is journaled in the housing Id. At the rear of the corn'picker andspaced considerably to the rear of the end of 'the'ccnveyor it stand vertically "positioned snapping rolls :8 and il.

Between the end of the horizontal longitudinal conveyor H, as defined by the sprocket l8 and the snapping rolls H5 and ll, lies a husking bed l9.- The husking bed H) is transversely disposed "well below the level of the horizontal conveyor H and also beneath the lower end of the snappingrolls N3 and. H. The bed includes two pair of:husking rolls 26' and 2!. Each pair of rolls consistsoiarubber covered roll 22 and 133 and a wooden-roll 25 and 25. The rubber-covered rolls,

22 and 23 are relatively greater in diameter than the wooden rolls and are journaled for rotation slightly above the wooden rolls to enable ear forwarder conveyors 26 and 2'! to run lengthwise of and directly above the wooden rolls. The husks are of course pulled down between the pairs of rolls 2!] and 2| and dropped into transversely positioned auger conveyor 28. The ear forwarder conveyors carry the ears lengthwise of the pairs of rolls 2B and 2| and thence join with a wagon elevator (not shown).

The gap or wide space between the conveyor l l and the snapping rolls l6 over which the stalks must bridge is so large that without additional guiding or stalk forwarding means the stalks tend to fall down onto the husking bed, causing jamming and clogging to such an extent that the entire corn picker must be stopped and the husking bed cleaned out. This is true especially when there is a great quantity of stalks being fed to the machine at approximately the same time. It would, of course, be possible to extend the conveyor H to a point closer to the snapping rolls. However, it is especially desirable to have the ears hanging downwardly from the stalks when they are snapped by the snap ping rolls l6 and I1. It has been found by experiment that the ears are snapped much easier at right angles to the stalk during travel through the snapping rolls, and hence any assisting means provided for the stalk between the conveyor H and the snapping rolls l and ll must permit the ears to hang downwardly and further must be able to accommodate great quantities of stalks simultaneously.

The stalk forwarder means of this invention takes the form of cooperative feeding rolls 29 and 30. These feed rolls are journaled around vertical shaft extensions 31 and 32, respectively, in arms 33 and 34. The rear ends of the arms are journaled on the snapping roll shafts 35 and 36 extending upwardly from the snapping rolls l6 and I1, respectively. The arms 33 and 34 are adapted to hinge about the shafts 35 and 36 causing various degrees of space between the rolls 29 and 33. As best shown in Figure 3, a spring 3'! joins the arms 33 and 34 tending to cause the feed rolls 23 and 30 to remain in yieldable contact with each other. The degree of spread of the arms 33 and 34 varies with the number of stalks being fed therethrough. The arms are limited in their inward swing by lugs 33 and 33 which are adapted to contact each other, thereby preventing the feed rolls 29 and 30 from becoming too closely positioned. The outward swing of the arms 33 and 34 is limited by lugs 40 and, 4! projecting upwardly from the top of the housing l0. Further limitations on the swing of the arms 33 and 34 takes the form of arcuate slots 42 and 43 in the top of the housing 90. The vertical shafts 3| and 32 of the feed rolls 29 and 30 project upwardly through the arcuate slots 42 and 43 at which point the arms 33 and 34 are journaled therearound. The feed rolls 29 and 3B are iournaled only at their upper ends so that the bottom of the rolls are unjournaled and unsupported. This permits the ears on the stalks to hang downwardly without interference and, as previously stated, is conducive to ready snapping.

The arms 33 and 34 are equipped with collars 44. Above the collars 44 are sprockets 45 and 48 which carry driving chains 41 and 48. These driving chains project forwardly from sprockets 49 and 50 which are mounted on the snapping roll shafts 35 and 36, respectively. Idler sprockets 5! and 52 are adjustably mounted in projections 53 and 54 On the arms 33 and 34, respectively. These idler sprockets are for the purpose of tightening the chains 41 and 48 by adjustable movement in slots 55 and 56. v

The shaft 51 is driven by means of an auxiliary engine or from the power take-01f of the tractor. Keyed or otherwise attached to the shaft 5'! is a bevel gear 58 adapted to drive a bevel gear 53 which causes direct rotation of the snapping roll l6 and by means of spur gears 60 causes opposite rotation of the snapping roll l'l. Rotational drive of the snapping rolls I 6 and I1 thereby imparts rotation to the sprockets 49 and 50 and hence the feed rolls 29 and 33 in the same manner.

In operation the standing corn stalks are severed from the ground and the entire stalk with all its foliage and ears of corn is put onto the rearwardly running horizontal conveyor II, and with the aid of the paddle wheel 93 feeds the stalks butt end first through the stalk forwarding rolls 29 and 33 which enable the stalks to bridge the gap between the end of the conveyor H and the snapping rolls l6 and H. If a number of stalks are put through the machine at the same time, the feed rolls 29 and 39 may swing outwardly away from each other but the tension caused by the spring 31 maintains them as close together as possible and with sufficient force to cause rearward feeding of the stalks of corn l4. An ear BI is shown just leaving the horizontal conveyor II, and an ear 32 is shown between the conveyor H and the snapping rolls H5 and 11. It will be noted that inasmuch as there is no journal support or no interconnection between the ends of the rolls 29 and 30, the ears 3! and 62 may hang vertically at right angles to the stalk l4 during their travel through the stalk forwarding rolls 2!! and 33. In this position the ears GI and 62 are readily snapped by the snapping rolls l6 and I1 and fall forwardly onto the husking bed IS. The husks are removed and the ear carried longitudinally of the rolls and then up a wagon elevator.

The primary function of the stalk forwarding rolls 29 and 3D is, of course, to prevent clogging and jamming of the space above the husking bed. However, in addition to preventing such clogging, the rolls 29 and 30 tend to guide the stalks into the vertical snapping rolls. Additional guide means are provided, as shown in Figure 2, at 63 and 64.

After the stalks l4 pass through the snapping rolls f6 and 11, they proceed out the end of the machine. A grain saver in the form of a shaking pan 65 is adapted to shake loose all kernels of corn which pass out with the stalks 54. These grains of corn drop through the shaking pan 65, and by means of suitable conveyors are carried to the wagon elevator and are loaded with the ears of corn which pass through the machine in the regular manner.

Many details of construction may be varied throughout a wide range without departing from the principles disclosed herein, and I therefore do not propose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than as necessitated by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A corn machine having a housing, snapping and husking rolls mounted in said housing, said husking rolls mounted in said housing, said husking rolls positioned horizontally and; transverselyof said housing at a location forwardly of and beneath said snapping rolls, and a pair of cooperative stalk forwarding rolls vertically positioned and journaled in the housing at their upper ends, the lower ends of the forwarding rolls being unjournaled and depending over the husking rolls forwardly of the snapping rolls.

2. A corn treating machine having a housing, snapping rolls vertically mounted in said housing, husking rolls horizontally mounted in said housing forwardly of and beneath the snapping rolls, a conveyor adapted to feed severed stalks of corn to a point above said husking rolls, and a pair of vertically positioned cooperative stalk forwarding rolls depending from said housing above said husking rolls and adapted to feed and guide the stalks leaving the slatted conveyor to the vertically positioned snapping rolls.

3. A corn treating machine having a housing, snapping rolls vertically mounted in said housing, husking rolls horizontally mounted in said housing forwardly of and beneath the snapping rolls, a conveyor adapted to feed severed stalks of corn to a point above said husking rolls, and a pair of vertically positioned cooperative stalk forwarding rolls journaled at their upper ends in said housing above said husking rolls.

4. A corn treating machine having a housing, snapping rolls vertically mounted in said housing, husking rolls horizontally mounted in said housing forwardly of and beneath the snapping rolls, a conveyor adapted to feed severed stalks of corn to a point above said husking rolls, and a pair of vertically positioned cooperative stalk forwarding rolls journaled at their upper ends in said housing above said husking rolls, said stalk forwarding rolls being unjournaled at their lower ends to permit ears on said stalks to hang downwardly unhindered.

5. A corn treating machine having a housing, snapping rolls vertically mounted in said housing, husking rolls horizontally mounted in said housing forwardly of and beneath the snapping rolls, a conveyor adapted to feed severed stalks of com to a point above said husking rolls, and a pair of vertically positioned stalk forwarding rolls mounted at their upper ends in the housing, and spring means holding said rolls in cooperative 6 engagement and accommodating various quantities of stalks.

6. A corn treating machine having a housing, snapping rolls vertically mounted in said housing, husking rolls horizontally mounted in said housing forwardly of and beneath the snapping rolls, a slatted conveyor adapted to feed severed stalks of corn in a substantially horizontal position to a point above said husking rolls, a pair of arms pivotally mounted on the top of said housing for horizontal swinging movement, a feed roll depending vertically from and journaled for rotation at their upper ends in each of said arms through arcuate slots formed in said housing over said husking rolls and the feed rolls cooperating with each other to forward stalks from the slatted conveyor to said vertically positioned snapping rolls.

7. A corn treating machine having a housing, snapping rolls vertically mounted in said housing, husking rolls horizontally mounted in said housing forwardly of and beneath the snapping rolls, a slatted conveyor adapted to feed severed stalks of corn to a point above said husking rolls, a pair of arms pivotally mounted on the top of said housing for horizontal swinging movement, a feed r011 depending from and journaled at its upper end in each of said arms and extending downwardly through arcuate slots in said housing to a position over said husking rolls and the feed rolls cooperating with each other to forward stalks from the slatted conveyor to said vertically positioned snapping rolls, and spring means joining said arms to provide a resilient yielding between said stalk forwarding rolls.

ROBERT P. MESSENGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 702,344 Crosby June 10, 1902 705,311 Alexander et al July 22, 1902 734,035 Bellairs et a1. July 21, 1903 1,430,671 Morral et al Oct. 3, 1922 1,461,748 Boyer July 17, 1923 2,352,501 Slavicek June 27, 1944 

